France Magnifique

France is calling, and tonight you answer. Over the next several days, the history, art, and flavor of France's celebrated cities and towns are yours to discover. À bientôt, Paris.

Bienvenue en France, and welcome to Versailles. As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing today, so spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. As evening falls, gather with your fellow travelers for a savory French dinner to kick off the journey right.

This morning, explore the Palace of Versailles (UNESCO) with a guide, unlocking the Private Apartments where Louis XIV, the Sun King, held court and shaped a kingdom. Then, the grandeur is yours to take in at your own pace. Wander the lavish State Apartments, linger in the Hall of Mirrors, and stand in the very bedchamber where queens once woke to the business of an empire. By afternoon, step into the formal gardens as Baroque fountains surge to classical music.* Enjoy free time to explore the quieter Petit Versailles or lose yourself in the stalls of the open-air Marché Notre-Dame.

This morning, step into the world that shaped one of history's greatest artists, visiting Monet's home at Giverny,** the village where he lived and painted for over forty years. Walk Monet's Garden, where water lilies still drift across the famous pond that inspired his Nymphéas series, exactly as he captured them on canvas. By afternoon, the pastures of Normandy roll past as you make your way to Caen, your base for the next two nights.